Clamping means for trays or the like



wlan.. 26, 1932.

WM ljllnuplllllnlul F. GL/NTZ CLAMPING MEANS FOR TRAYS OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 1o, 1951 Aaa Patented Jan. 26, 1932 lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK GLANTZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS GLAMPING MEANS FOR TRAYS OR THE LIKE This invention relates to a novel and improved clampingl means for a tray or the like, and more particularly to a self-adjusting clamp by means of which a tray or the like may be readily and securely attached to a table leg, or the like, regardless of the shape of the same.

@ne object of the invention is to produce a simple, attractive and convenient card table, or the like, accessory which is provided with a novel selfsadjusting clamping,l means by means of which it may be quickly fastened to card table leg or the like, in such position as not to obstruct the playing surface of the table, said clamping means being adapted for attachment to the leg of a table or the arm of a chair regardless of the shape of the same or `the size of the same wit-hin certain limits.

Another object of the invention is to produce a device of the character described, which consists of few and simple parts that may be readily and easily manufactured and assembled along lines convenient for low cost production, and which will at the same time be attractive in appearance and highly efficient for carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

il further object of this invention is to produce a device of the character described which consists in a horizontally disposed member having,` a pair of gripping jaws provided on one end thereof, and a horizontally disposed tray provided at the other end thereof, and a spiral spring means disposed in said horizontally disposed member for forcing said jaws into operative clamping relation with each other.

A still further object of this invention is to produce a novel and improved clamping means consisting; of a :lined tubular member, one end of which is provided at diametrically-opposite points with two horizontal slits, that portion of the member lying` on either side of said slits being` bent at right angles to said member to form a fixed jaw, and a curvilinear movable jaw adapted for cooperating' with said .fixed liaw for clamping` therebetween the leg' of a table or the like, said movable jaw having one end thereof received in the tubular member for sliding movement therein, and a spiral spring means for urging` the movable jaw towards the fixed jaw.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being` understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, shape and minor details of the structure may be made without departing,` from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. y

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar characters of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings:

Figure l isa view in perspective of a device embodying my invention, the same being shown attached in place on the arm of a chair, the latter being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the same; and

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-8 of Fig'. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

In carryingout my invention, as herein shown. I employ a tubular hollow member, generally designated by the reference character l0. said member being of any suitable material, such as metal or the like, and being; provided at one end thereof with the elbow portion l1, which portion may be as shown in the drawings, formed integral with the member l0, or if desired, the same may be secured in any suitable and well known manner to the member 10. The open end of the elbow portion 11, is provided with internal threads as shown at 12, for the purpose of receiving therein in threaded relation a suitable tray 13, or the like. The tray is provided with the projection or boss 14, which is provided with the exterior threads for screwing the same into the open end of the elbow portion 11.v The projection 111, is also provided witha dependingI lug 15, which is for a purpose to be presently more fully described.

The member 10, is provided adj acentthej free end thereof at diametricallyopposite points with two horizontal slits, and; theportions of the member 10,.ly,i ng on. either side of the said slits are bent at right angles to form the flanges 16 and 17,.whichflanges are verticali 1,. disposed and arein alignment with each other. These flanges 16 and 17V gorto makeup the'fixedjaw of the grippingA means for attaching the device to a; table leg or the like. To prevent themarring. of the table leg or arm of the chair 30l (represented by broken lines in Fig. 1), to- Whiehniy improved device is adaptedto be attached, .the fixed jaw 16-17f, is provided on its outer face with a felt pad 18.

In order to yieldingly grip. the table leg, ll provide the movable jaw which` is generally designated by the reference character 19, and which is of a shape and curvature. asshown in the drawings. The said movable aw is provided on theinner vend thereof Ywith a suitable hook member 21, which hook member is received within the member 10the body porL tion of the movablejaw extending outwardly from the hook member and extending through a longitudinally disposed slot 23, provided in the side of the member 10.A The said slot 23, terminates at a point intermediate the ends of the member 10, and theend wall of the. slot is adapted for limiting the inward movement of the movable jaw.. The said movableY jaw isbenti as. shown at 22, to form almost a right aII-glefwith said hook por tion 21, said bent portion acting as a hinge against the edge of the slotto facilitateV in the opening up of the movable jaw member 19. rihe free end'of the movable jaw 19, is bent outwardly as shown zit-20, to facilitate the slipping of the gripping means in place around any suitable support. A pin 24 is provided adjacent the Lbent portion `22, for limiting the movement of the movable jaw 19 in` a clockwise direction.

En. order to yieldingly grip the support to which the device may be attached between the jaws 16-17 and 19., the latterjiaw is urged toward the former by a helical spring 26, housed .wi-thin the member 10. The said spring 26, has ene` end 27, thereof secured'to the lug-15, and the other end 28, thereof se cured to the` hook, portion 2.1'. 1t will be noted that the free end 20, of the movable jaw extendsa considerable distance beyond l the planeof the member 10, thus permitting the jaws to grip an object of considerable j size, and regardless of the shape of the object, as the said movable jaw is curved in such a manner as to adopt itself around a square, oblong or curved surface. A suitable tubing of rubber, or the like, designated by the numeral 25, is provided onthe movable jawy 19, forv preventing the marr-ing of the surface of the object to which the device may be attached.

It will be readilyapparent that the device isv self-adjlistingandmay be quickly slipped in place with a singl`e'-movement without necessitatingl` theusefof any fastening means, such as screws, bolts, or the like. Also it will benoted that lthe device comprises only a few simple parts, which mayY be` readilyI vand quickly assembled without the necessity of any tools, orthe like., Although,l the-ash tray 13', has been: shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that .any other suitable tray, may be used, such for example asa lattray for holding aglass, a packof cards,- Or the like.Y My improved gripping means may'also be used for securing a lampV in place. onv the edge of a bed, tableor thelike, as well; a-s for ny: purpose that the same may: be adapted It. is believed thatV my'invention, its mode ofl construction, and assembly, andr many: of its advanta-gesshould be'readily understood from the foregoing,.without furtherv description, and shouldi also be-manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the inventionhas been yshown and described for illustrative purposes, vthe structural details are, nevertheless, capable of widevariation within the pure view of myrinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to. secure by Let.- te-rs Patent of the United States is 1. A clamping means for atray, comprising-I a horizontal tubular membenone end of said tubular member being provided with diametrically-oppositeslits,l the portions of said member lying on either side of'said slits, being bent at right angles to` form a fixed gripping jaw,` a complementary movable grippingjaw carried andl guided by the said horizontal member, a spring for urging the said movablejaw towards the fixed jaw, said spring being housed in said tubular member, and a tray carried by said tubular member.

2. A clamping means comprisinga tubular member, one end of said tubular member being provided with diametrically-opposite slits, the portions of. said member lying on either side of said slits being bent at right angles to form a fixed gripping jaw, a complementary movable jaw of curved formation carried and guided by the said tubular member, one end of said movable jaw being received in said tubular member, that pol'- tion of'said movable member adjacent the said inner portion received insaid tubular member extending through a slot provided in the side wall of said tubular member for sliding movement therein, and a spring for urging tbe said movable jaw towards the said fixed jaw.

A damping means of the character described, comprising a tubular member having a xed gripping jaw provided on one end thereof, a complementary movable gripm ping jaw carried by said tubular member, the

said movable jaw being of curved formation and having the major portion of the body thereof extending beyond and surrounding tbe said iixed jaw on all except one side there ,j oit, the inner end of said movable jaw being received in said tubular member through a longitudinal slot provided in the side wall of the tubular member, and a spring Jfor urging said movable jaw towards the iXed jaw, M and a bent portion provided adjacent the inner end of the movable jaw said bent p01'- tion being adapted to act as a binge against tbe inner edge of said longitudinal slot, whereby said movable aw may pivot about 5 said inner edge.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

FRANK GLANTZ.

ill

fifi 

